TRADE WITH JAPAN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21054, 17 June 1930, Page 7

TRADE WITH JAPAN

FOSTERING COMMERCIAL RELATIONS. TRADE COMMISSIONER ARRIVES. - (Special to Daily Times.i WELLINGTON, June 16. Evidence of the increasing regard for .New Zealand in the world of commerce is provided in the arrival from Sydney, by the Tahiti of Mr K. Kubota, who has been appointed by'the Japanese Government as its first Trade Commissioner in the Dominion. Mr Kubota has had a noted career in the Japanese civil service, and he has been prominent on business circles there for many years. He intends to tour New Zealand probably for the rest of the year, after which he will settle in Wellington. “ My mission is to promote trade and foster commercial relations between Japan and New Zealand,” Mr Kubota said. He was certain, as was also the great bulk of the Japanese business community, that great opportunities existed for tho increasing trade between the two countries to their mutual advantage. The three Japanese delegates to the recent Pacific Rotary Conference in Sydney who had toured New Zealand as the accredited representatives of their Government had been greatly impressed with the prosperity of New Zealand and with the volume of her trade. Japan now traded largely * with Australia, and it was her desire to ’ extend her commerce to New Zealand, i Primary products from New Zealand had a very high name in Japan, where both her butter‘and cheese always had a ready ’ sale. Japan was willing to buy New ■ Zealand’s frozen meat; wool, casein, dried milk, and more' butter and cheese than at present. In return, she hoped to bo able to trade with the. Dominion in silk goods, toys, general merchandise, and even machinery. In order to facilitate mutual trade, proceeded Mr Kubota, the Japanese Government was anxious that a shipping service should be provided between the two countries. Two routes had been suggested—one incorporating the west coast of Australia, Manila, Hongkong, and perhaps Siugauore, and the other including the South Pacific islands. -The lack of shipping facilities between the two countries was at present'a bar to effective trading, and it was hoped - that private enterprise In Japan would shortly inaugurate a cargo and perhaps a passenger service. Trade conditions were not very good in Japan at present, Mr Kubota added, and a general depression was having a noticeable effect upon commerce generally. For two years Mr Kpbota was secretary to the Minister of Finance in Japan, and he has a thorough knowledge of his conn- : try’s affairs. Ho has been six years in | the civil service, and for many years he- : fore that ho was engaged in business.